Gym Etiquette Rules to Follow

Lila Fierek Lifestyles Editor

With 52 percent of Americans’ New Year’s resolutions being to exercise more, according to Statistica, and 12 percent of new gym members starting in January, according to RunRepeat, gyms have been filling up. This means new people to fitness centers, some who don’t know the “unwritten rules” of the gym. Here are five rules of gym etiquette for all those visiting.

Respect others and their space. When personal space isn’t respected, it can make people nearby uncomfortable. This is also important because it can be dangerous to workout too close to someone else. If someone drops a weight or stretches out a little farther than expected, you could be in harm’s way.

Respecting others also means leaving people alone without reason. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do outside of the gym. This means being patient and not hovering over people who are on a piece of equipment you may want to use. This can also mean not giving out unsolicited advice or making comments about someone’s body and technique.

Be clean.

This goes for both yourself and the equipment. According to the CDC, germs living on dry surfaces can last for days, even weeks. That is why it’s so important to wipe down equipment after each use, though it helps to do it before as well. Taking a shower right after leaving the gym can help remove any germs that might’ve been missed.

It’s also good to wear clean clothes and have good personal hygiene. Odors can affect both yourself and others, but bacteria can grow on sweaty gym clothes. According to The Healthy, this can also lead to bacterial infections, rashes and viruses.